Exercise devices, guide/hook devices, and methods of making and using same

ABSTRACT

An exercise device with a body having recesses for receiving fingers of a user. The body can be squeezable or not. An elastic band surround the periphery of the body, and permits the user to move fingers against the tension of the elastic band. A guide/hook device prevents accidental separation of the guide/hook device from the body, and prevents accidental separation of the elastic band from the guide/hook device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority fromU.S. Design patent application 29/420,783 filed May 12, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise devices, guide/hook devices,and methods of making and using same.

More particularly, the present invention relates to exercise devices,guide/hook devices, and methods of making and using same, whereinaccidental removal of an elastic band used therewith is minimized oreliminated.

It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversionsof conventional devices, and at the same time to provide very effective.convenient and unique exercise devices, guide/hook devices, and methodsof making and using same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a guide/hook device comprising: an upperstructure; a lower structure connected to said upper structure; saidupper structure including a tortuous member; said tortuous member havingan upper portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion interconnectingsaid upper portion and said bottom portion, and a second side portionconnected to said bottom portion and being separated from said upperportion by a first predetermined gap; said upper portion having adepending intermediate member; a guide cavity portion formed by saidupper portion, said first side portion, and said depending intermediatemember; a tortuous channel connecting said predetermined gap and saidguide cavity; said tortuous channel being formed by said second sideportion, said bottom portion, said first side portion, and saiddepending intermediate member; and said lower structure includes meansfor securement of said guide/hook device to an external body and forholding said guide/hook device within the material of the external body.

The invention also provides an exercise device comprising: a body havinga top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall extending about said topand bottom surfaces between said top and bottom surfaces; said sidewallincluding at least one recess formed therein; an elastic memberpositioned about the periphery of the body; said elastic memberextending across the at least one recess to enclose the at least onerecess such that the enclosed recess is dimensioned and configured toreceive at least a portion of an extremity of a user; at least oneguide/hook device for receiving said elastic member; and said at leastone guide/hook device comprising: an upper structure; a lower structureconnected to said upper structure; said upper structure including atortuous member; said tortuous member having an upper portion, a bottomportion, a first side portion interconnecting said upper portion andsaid bottom portion, and a second side portion connected to said bottomportion and being separated from said upper portion by a firstpredetermined gap; said upper portion having a depending intermediatemember; a guide cavity portion formed by said upper portion, said firstside portion, and said depending intermediate member; a tortuous channelconnecting said predetermined gap and said guide cavity; said tortuouschannel being formed by said second side portion, said bottom portion,said first side portion, and said depending intermediate member; andsaid lower structure includes means for securement of said guide/hookdevice to an external body and for holding said guide/hook device withinthe material of the external body.

The invention also provides an exercise device comprising: a squeezableresilient ball having at least one recess formed therein; an elasticmember positioned about the periphery of the ball; said elastic memberextending across the at least one recess to enclose the at least onerecess such that the enclosed recess is dimensioned and configured toreceive a finger of a user; at least one guide/hook device for receivingsaid elastic member; and said at least one guide/hook device comprising:an upper structure; a lower structure connected to said upper structure;said upper structure including a tortuous member; said tortuous memberhaving an upper portion, a bottom portion, a first side portioninterconnecting said upper portion and said bottom portion, and a secondside portion connected to said bottom portion and being separated fromsaid upper portion by a first predetermined gap; said upper portionhaving a depending intermediate member; a guide cavity portion formed bysaid upper portion, said first side portion, and said dependingintermediate member; a tortuous channel connecting said predeterminedgap and said guide cavity; said tortuous channel being formed by saidsecond side portion, said bottom portion, said first side portion, andsaid depending intermediate member; and said lower structure includesmeans for securement of said guide/hook device to said squeezableresilient ball and for holding said guide/hook device within thematerial of the squeezable resilient ball.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a guide/hookdevice which can be securely affixed to soft, resilient, elastic,pliable, and/or non-rigid bodies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a such aguide/hook device which impedes and/or eliminates accidental removal ofan elastic member from the guide/hook device with which the elasticmember operates.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercisedevice as described above which includes guide/hook devices that can besecurely affixed to soft, resilient, elastic, pliable, and/or non-rigidbodies.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an exercisedevice as described above which includes guide/hook devices that impedesand/or eliminates accidental removal of the elastic member from theguide/hook devices with which the elastic member operates.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an exercisedevice and/or guide/hook device as described above wherein the lowerstructure includes a substantially horizontal member, said at least oneflange structure, and at least one member connecting said substantiallyhorizontal member to said at least one flange member; said upperstructure is connected to said substantially horizontal member; and saidat least one flange structure is V-shaped having its apex facing awayfrom said upper structure to impede loosening and/or removal of saiddevice from the external body or ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device and/orguide/hook device wherein said lower structure includes a substantiallyhorizontal member, a plurality of said flange structures, and at leastone member connecting said substantially horizontal member to saidplurality of flange members; said upper structure is connected to saidsubstantially horizontal member; and each said flange structure isV-shaped having its apex facing away from said upper structure to impedeloosening and/or removal of said device from the external body or ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device and/orguide/hook device wherein said depending intermediate member is providedwith a plurality of protuberances which depend into said tortuouschannel and which provide a plurality of second predetermined gapsbetween said bottom portion and said plurality of protuberances.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device asdescribed above wherein the elastic member extends across the at leastone recess to enclose the at least one recess such that the enclosedrecess is dimensioned and configured to receive a finger of a user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device asdescribed above wherein the at least one recess includes a plurality ofrecesses; and said elastic band extends across each of the recesses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device asdescribed above including a shallow groove extending along the sidewallof the body; said shallow groove being dimensioned and configured toreceive said elastic band.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention willbecome apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area oftechnology and to other persons after having been exposed to the presentpatent application when read in conjunction with the accompanying patentdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guide/hook device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is right side elevational view of the device depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an exercise deviceof the present invention shown in use.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the FIG. 3 device with the elastic memberremoved.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the FIG. 4 device.

FIG. 6 is a enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 5 showing the elasticmember entering the guide/hook device

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the elastic member disposedin the guide cavity of the guide/hook device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an exercisedevice of the present invention shown when exercising an index finger.

FIG. 9 is a view of the FIG. 8 device with the elastic member removed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the FIG. 8 device shown being squeezedby a user.

FIG. 11 is plan view of the second embodiment shown with the elasticmember removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description of the embodiments which follows, together with theaccompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the inventionto the examples shown and described, because those skilled in the art towhich this disclosure pertains will be able to devise other formsthereof within the ambit of the appended claims.

Like components are referred to by the same reference numbers.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a guide/hook device 10in accordance with the invention.

The guide/hook device 10 includes an upper structure 11, and a lowerstructure 12 connected to the upper structure 11.

The upper structure 11 including a tortuous member 13 which has an upperportion 14, a bottom portion 15, a first side portion 16 interconnectingthe upper portion 14 and the bottom portion 15, and a second sideportion 17 connected to the bottom portion 15 and being separated fromthe upper portion 14 by a first predetermined gap 18.

The upper portion 14 has a depending intermediate member 19.

A guide cavity portion 20 is formed by the upper portion 14, the firstside portion 16, and the depending intermediate member 19.

A tortuous channel 21 connects the first predetermined gap 18 and theguide cavity 20.

The tortuous channel 21 is formed by the second side portion 17, thebottom portion 15, the first side portion 16, and the dependingintermediate member 19.

The depending intermediate member 19 is provided with a plurality ofprotuberances 22, 23 and 24 which depend into the tortuous channel 21and which provide a plurality of second predetermined gaps 25, 26 and 27between the bottom portion 15 and the plurality of protuberances 22, 23and 24.

The lower structure 12 has a plurality of flange structures 28, 29 and30 for securement of the guide/hook device 10 to an external body.

The lower structure 12 also includes a substantially horizontal member31 and two members 32 and 33 connecting the substantially horizontalmember 31 to the flange members 28, 29 and 30.

The upper structure 11 is connected to the substantially horizontalmember 31.

Each flange structure 28, 29 or 30 is V-shaped having its apex facingaway from the upper structure 11 to impede loosening and/or removal ofthe device 10 from the external body.

With reference to FIGS. 3-7, there is shown a first embodiment of anexercise device 40 in accordance with the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 3-7, the exercise unit 40 includes a body 41, and aremovable elastic member 42 extending around the periphery of body 41.

The body 41 has recesses 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 configured anddimensioned to receive each of the five fingers of a user.

A central opening 50 can optionally be provided as an alternativelocation for positioning the user's thumb during exercising.

The material of construction of body 41 is not critical.

Body 41 can be made, for example, from plastic, rubber, metal, ceramic,wood, or the like.

The manner of construction of body 41 is likewise not critical. Body 41can be molded, cast, stamped, carved, or formed using any othertechnique.

Body 41 can be a unitary structure or can be made from two or morepieces that are, for example, snap fit together.

For example, body 41 may be a unitary structure that is molded or castfrom a latex-free synthetic material.

Guide/hook devices 10 are positioned as shown in FIGS. 3-7.

As seen best in FIGS. 6 and 7, guide/hook devices 10 allow insertiontherein and removal therefrom of elastic member 42, but most importantlyprevent accidental removal of the elastic member 42 after it has beenpositioned in the guide cavity 20.

This is accomplished by the unique dimensioning and configuration of theabove-described elements of the upper structure 11 of the guide/hookdevice 10.

The guide/hook device 10 can be made from any material, including butnot limited to the materials listed above from which body 41 can bemade.

The guide/hook device 10 can be formed separately, or as a unitarystructure with body 41. For example, the guide/hook device 10 can bemolded from the same material as is used to mold the body 41.

Alternatively, the guide/hook devices 10 can be made from a materialdifferent from the material from which body is made.

With reference to FIGS. 8-11, there is shown a second embodiment of anexercise device 70 in accordance with the present invention.

As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the exercise unit 70 includes a squeezablebody ball 71, and a removable elastic member 42 extending around theperiphery of ball 71.

The ball 71 has recesses 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 configured anddimensioned to receive fingers of a user, and located as shown in FIG.11.

A substantially flat portion 78 can also be provided.

The guide/hook devices 10 are embedded within body 41 or ball 71.

For example, the guide/hook devices 10 may be placed partially within amold, and the body 41 or ball 71 is molded around the lower structure 12to embed the guide/hooks 10 within body 41 or ball 71.

Those skilled in the art will readily envision other techniques forconnecting the guide/hook devices 10 to the body 41 or ball 71.

Elastic member 42 is positioned around the periphery of body 20 or ball41.

Elastic member 42 is, essentially, a rubber band that serves as a meansof providing resistance during exercise.

Elastic member 42 has a degree of elasticity that provides resistancewithin a range desirable for finger/hand exercise and can undergo anumber of stretchings, while repeatedly reassuming its originalunstretched configuration upon release of the stretching force.

While elastic member 42 can be made from latex or natural rubber, incertain embodiments elastic member 42 can advantageously be made fromnon-allergenic synthetic elastomers.

Such materials are known to those skilled in the art.

In certain embodiments, thermoplastic elastomers suitable for formingelastic member 42 are capable of being extruded in the form of very thinfilms, particularly from about 0.1 mm to 1.25 mm thick and can have anelongation to break of about 300% to about 900%, a tensile strength ofabout 10 to about 30 MPa, and a modulus at 300% elongation of about 1 to5 MPa.

Illustrative examples of such thermoplastic elastomers includestyrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers,styrene-ethylenelbutylene-styrene block copolymers (SEBS) such as thetype commonly available under the tradename KRATON® available fromKraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Houston Tex.

Also useful in forming elastic member 42 are polyolefin elastomers, suchas the type sold under the tradename ENGAGE® by DuPont Dow Elastomers,L.L.C., Wilmington, Del. (See generally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,060, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.).

Other suitable materials for forming elastic member 42 will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

As noted above, elastic member 42 can be removed from body 20 or ball41.

This permits one elastic member 42 to be replaced with another elasticmember having a different resistive force.

In this manner, each individual user can begin his/her exercise regimenat the appropriate level of resistance and progressively increase theintensity of the exercise by increasing the resistance level of theelastic member.

Elastic members 52 thus advantageously can be provided in a variety ofthicknesses, with different thicknesses of material providing differentdegrees of resistance.

In this way, an elastic member can be pre-selected to provide a desireddegree of resistance.

Alternatively, the composition of the elastic member and/or theproduction parameters can be selected to produce elastic members ofvarying levels of resistance.

Furthermore, coloring matter can be provided during manufacture toproduce colored elastic members.

Different colors can be indicative of different levels of resistance.

In one illustrative coloring scheme, a yellow elastic member wouldindicate a low level of resistance, with red, green, blue and blackindicating progressively greater levels of resistance.

Optionally, the elastic members can also be printed or otherwisepatterned with informational or aesthetic ornamentation.

For example, one or both surfaces of elastic member 42 can be textured,such as by embossing them using a textured plate.

Such texturing can be purely functional (e.g., to provide a moregrippable surface) or the texturing can also serve informationalpurposes (e.g., printed with indicia indicating the number of pounds ofresistance which it provides) and/or aesthetic purposes.

FIGS. 3, 8, 9 and 10 show the manner of use of exercise device 40 and70.

Initially, the user places each finger within a recess between elasticmember 42 and body 41 or ball 71.

The user then moves one or more fingers in a direction away from body 41or 71 to stretch elastic member 42.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the user can move his/her index fingerwhile maintaining all other fingers against ball 71.

It should of course be understood that the user may move two or morefingers simultaneously in a direction away from body 41 or ball 71 toexercise two or more fingers simultaneously.

Once a user has exercised sufficiently to stretch an elastic member of aparticular resistance, the elastic member can be easily removed from theperiphery of body 41 or ball 71 by sliding elastic member 42 out fromunder guides 10 and can be replaced with an elastic member of higher orlower resistance.

The guide/hook device 10 prevent accidental separation of the guide/hookdevice from the body or ball, and prevents accidental separation of theelastic band 42 from the guide/hook device 10.

There have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and describedhereinabove only two possible unique and novel embodiments of thepresent invention which can be practiced and constructed in manydifferent embodiments, configurations, materials, arrangements ofcomponents, sizes, and shapes.

It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations,and other uses and applications will become apparent to those personsskilled in this particular area of technology and to others after havingbeen exposed to the present patent specification and accompanyingdrawings.

Any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention are therefore covered by and embraced within thepresent invention and the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.

1. A guide/hook device, comprising: an upper structure; a lowerstructure connected to said upper structure; said upper structureincluding a tortuous member; said tortuous member having an upperportion, a bottom portion, a first side portion interconnecting saidupper portion and said bottom portion, and a second side portionconnected to said bottom portion and being separated from said upperportion by a first predetermined gap; said upper portion having adepending intermediate member; a guide cavity portion formed by saidupper portion, said first side portion, and said depending intermediatemember; a tortuous channel connecting said predetermined gap and saidguide cavity; said tortuous channel being formed by said second sideportion, said bottom portion, said first side portion, and saiddepending intermediate member; and said lower structure includes meansfor securement of said guide/hook device to an external body and forholding said guide/hook device within the material of the external body.2. The device of claim 1, wherein: said lower structure includes asubstantially horizontal member, at least one flange structure, and atleast one member connecting said substantially horizontal member to saidat least one flange member; said upper structure is connected to saidsubstantially horizontal member; and said at least one flange structureis V-shaped having its apex facing away from said upper structure toimpede loosening and/or removal of said device from the external body.3. The device of claim 1, wherein: said lower structure includes asubstantially horizontal member, a plurality of flange structures, andat least one member connecting said substantially horizontal member tosaid plurality of flange members; said upper structure is connected tosaid substantially horizontal member; and each said flange structure isV-shaped having its apex facing away from said upper structure to impedeloosening and/or removal of said device from the external body.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein: said depending intermediate member isprovided with a plurality of protuberances which depend into saidtortuous channel and which provide a plurality of second predeterminedgaps between said bottom portion and said plurality of protuberances. 5.The device of claim 2, wherein: said depending intermediate member isprovided with a plurality of protuberances which depend into saidtortuous channel and which provide a plurality of second predeterminedgaps between said bottom portion and said plurality of protuberances. 6.The device of claim 3, wherein: said depending intermediate member isprovided with a plurality of protuberances which depend into saidtortuous channel and which provide a plurality of second predeterminedgaps between said bottom portion and said plurality of protuberances. 7.An exercise device comprising: a body having a top surface, a bottomsurface, and a sidewall extending about said top and bottom surfacesbetween said top and bottom surfaces; said sidewall including at leastone recess formed therein; an elastic member positioned about theperiphery of the body; said elastic member extending across the at leastone recess to enclose the at least one recess such that the enclosedrecess is dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of anextremity of a user; at least one guide/hook device for receiving saidelastic member; and said at least one guide/hook device comprising: anupper structure; a lower structure connected to said upper structure;said upper structure including a tortuous member; said tortuous memberhaving an upper portion, a bottom portion, a first side portioninterconnecting said upper portion and said bottom portion, and a secondside portion connected to said bottom portion and being separated fromsaid upper portion by a first predetermined gap; said upper portionhaving a depending intermediate member; a guide cavity portion formed bysaid upper portion, said first side portion, and said dependingintermediate member; a tortuous channel connecting said predeterminedgap and said guide cavity; said tortuous channel being formed by saidsecond side portion, said bottom portion, said first side portion, andsaid depending intermediate member; and said lower structure includesmeans for securement of said guide/hook device to an external body andfor holding said guide/hook device within the material of the externalbody.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein: the elastic member extendsacross the at least one recess such that the enclosed recess isdimensioned and configured to receive a finger of a user.
 9. The deviceof claim 7, wherein: the at least one recess includes a plurality ofrecesses; and said elastic band extends across each of the recesses. 10.The device of claim 7, including: a shallow groove extending along thesidewall of the body; said shallow groove being dimensioned andconfigured to receive said elastic band.
 11. The device of claim 7,wherein: said lower structure includes a substantially horizontalmember, at least one flange structure, and at least one memberconnecting said substantially horizontal member to said at least oneflange member; said upper structure is connected to said substantiallyhorizontal member; and said at least one flange structure is V-shapedhaving its apex facing away from said upper structure to impedeloosening and/or removal of said device from the body.
 12. The device ofclaim 7, wherein: said lower structure includes a substantiallyhorizontal member, a plurality of flange structures, and at least onemember connecting said substantially horizontal member to said pluralityof flange members; said upper structure is connected to saidsubstantially horizontal member; and each said flange structure isV-shaped having its apex facing away from said upper structure to impedeloosening and/or removal of said device from the body.
 13. The device ofclaim 7, wherein: said depending intermediate member is provided with aplurality of protuberances which depend into said tortuous channel andwhich provide a plurality of second predetermined gaps between saidbottom portion and said plurality of protuberances.
 14. The device ofclaim 8, wherein: said depending intermediate member is provided with aplurality of protuberances which depend into said tortuous channel andwhich provide a plurality of second predetermined gaps between saidbottom portion and said plurality of protuberances.
 15. The device ofclaim 9, wherein: said depending intermediate member is provided with aplurality of protuberances which depend into said tortuous channel andwhich provide a plurality of second predetermined gaps between saidbottom portion and said plurality of protuberances.
 16. An exercisedevice comprising: a squeezable resilient ball having at least onerecess formed therein; an elastic member positioned about the peripheryof the ball; said elastic member extending across the at least onerecess to enclose the at least one recess such that the enclosed recessis dimensioned and configured to receive a finger of a user; at leastone guide/hook device for receiving said elastic member; and said atleast one guide/hook device comprising: an upper structure; a lowerstructure connected to said upper structure; said upper structureincluding a tortuous member; said tortuous member having an upperportion, a bottom portion, a first side portion interconnecting saidupper portion and said bottom portion, and a second side portionconnected to said bottom portion and being separated from said upperportion by a first predetermined gap; said upper portion having adepending intermediate member; a guide cavity portion formed by saidupper portion, said first side portion, and said depending intermediatemember; a tortuous channel connecting said predetermined gap and saidguide cavity; said tortuous channel being formed by said second sideportion, said bottom portion, said first side portion, and saiddepending intermediate member; and said lower structure includes meansfor securement of said guide/hook device to said squeezable resilientball and for holding said guide/hook device within the material of saidsqueezable resilient ball.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein: the atleast one recess includes a plurality of recesses; and said elastic bandextends across each of the recesses.
 18. The device of claim 16,wherein: said lower structure includes a substantially horizontalmember, at least one flange structure, and at least one memberconnecting said substantially horizontal member to said at least oneflange member; said upper structure is connected to said substantiallyhorizontal member; and said at least one flange structure is V-shapedhaving its apex facing away from said upper structure to impedeloosening and/or removal of the guide/hook device from the ball.
 19. Thedevice of claim 16, wherein: said lower structure includes asubstantially horizontal member, a plurality of said flange structures,and at least one member connecting said substantially horizontal memberto said plurality of flange members; said upper structure is connectedto said substantially horizontal member; and each said flange structureis V-shaped having its apex facing away from said upper structure toimpede loosening and/or removal of the guide/hook device from the ball.20. The device of claim 16, wherein: said depending intermediate memberis provided with a plurality of protuberances which depend into saidtortuous channel and which provide a plurality of second predeterminedgaps between said bottom portion and said plurality of protuberances.